his side
"Bare as he cours'd, expos'd the blow to meet,
"Pierc'd him when boasting thus, just where the man
"Join'd the four-footed form. With smart he rag'd,
"And to the Phyllian warrior's face his spear
"Presented. Back the spear rebounded: so
"Bound the hard hailstones from the roof; so leap
"The paltry pebbles on the hollow drum.
"Now hand to hand he rushes to engage,
"And in his harden'd sides attempts to plunge
"His weapon deep. Pervious his weapon finds
"No spot. Then cry'd he,--still thou shalt not 'scape:
"Though blunted is my point my edge shall slay;--
"And aim'd a blow oblique, to ope his side,
"While round his flank was grasp'd his forceful arm.
"Sounded the stroke as marble struck would sound;
"The shiver'd steel rebounding from his neck.
"His limbs unwounded, to the wondering foe
"Thus long expos'd, loud Caeneus call'd;--Now try
"Our arms thy limbs to pierce!--Up to the hilt
"His deadly weapon 'twixt his shoulders plung'd;
"Then thrust and dug with blows unseeing 'mid
"His entrails deep; thus forming wounds on wounds.

"Now all the furious crowd of double forms
"Rush raging round him; all their weapons hurl;
"And all assail with blows this single foe.
"Blunted their weapons fall, and Caeneus stands
"Unpierc'd, unbleeding, from ten thousand strokes:
"Astonish'd at the miracle they gaze;
"But Monychus exclaims;--What blasting shame
"A race o'erthrown by one; that one a man,
"But dubious. Grant him man, our coward deeds
"Prove us but what he has been. What avail
"Our giant limbs? What boots our double strength;
"Strength of created forms the mightiest two,
"In us conjoin'd? A goddess-mother we
"Assur'dly should not boast; nor boast for sire
"Ixion, whose great daring soul him mov'd
"To clasp the lofty Juno in his arms.
"Now vanquish'd by a foe half-male. Him whelm
"With trees, with rocks: whole mountains heap'd on high,
"Whole falling forests, let that stubborn soul
"Crush out. The woods upon his throat shall press,
"And weight for wounds shall serve.--The centaur spoke,
"Seizing a tree which lay by chance uptorn
"By raging Auster; on his valiant foe
"The bulk he hurl'd. All in like efforts join'd:
"And quickly Othrys of his woods was stript:
"Nor Pelion shade retain'd. Caeneus opprest
"Beneath the pile immense--the woody load,--
"Hot pants, and with his forceful shoulders bears,
"To heave